Hikind

Jacob Ostreicher, held in Bolivia on suspicion of money laundering; Hikind joins cause.

05/07/2012 - 20:00

Stewart Ain

Staff Writer

There have been a few newspaper and television stories about the arrest and imprisonment in Bolivia of Jacob Ostreicher of Brooklyn on suspicion of money laundering. But now his wife, Miriam Ungar, has decided to publicly press for his release through an online petition that asks the White House to intercede on his behalf.

Two judges and the Manhattan district attorney were too soft on a man suspected of anti-Semitic hate crimes, Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind said on Thursday.

David Haddad was released on his own recognizance by Kings County Criminal Court Judge Linda Poust-Lopez, while New York State Acting Supreme Court Judge Abraham Clott in Manhattan set bail at $2,500, which Hikind called " nothing short of shocking. Manhattan DA Cy Vance requested a bail of only $5,000. New Yorkers deserve an explanation."

With less than a week until voters in the 9th Congressional District pick their new repesentative, Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind threw his support behind Republican Bob Turner to succceed Anthony Weiner.

Hotheaded Republican candidate for governor Carl Paladino insists he never called Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver an "anti-Christ" or a "Hitler," returning fire through a spokesman today after a group of Orthodox Jews lambasted him on the steps of City Hall.